FRAGMENT
of the
DEBATES
in
THE CONVENTION
of the
STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
on the
adoption of the constitution.
Collected from contemporary publications, since the first edition of this work.
In Convention, Hartford, January 4, 1788.
SPEECH of OLIVER ELSWORTH, on opening the Debates.
OLIVER ELSWORTH. Mr. President, it is observable that there is no preface to the proposed Constitution; but it evidently presupposes two things: one is, the necessity of a federal government; the other is, the inefficacy of the old Articles of Confederation. A union is necessary for the purposes of a national defence. United, we are strong; divided, we are weak. It is easy for hostile nations to sweep off a number of separate states, one after another. Witness the states in the neighborhood of ancient Rome. They were successively subdued by that ambitious city, which they might have conquered with the utmost ease, if they had been united. Witness the Canaanitish nations, whose divided situation rendered them an easy prey. Witness England, which, when divided into separate states, was twice conquered by an inferior force. Thus it always happens to small states, and to great ones, if divided. Or if, to avoid this, they connect themselves with some powerful state, their
vol. ii.24
